One Group of Older Americans Is Ignoring Coronavirus Advice: Members of Congress

Any hope that Republican representation in Congress will be diminished by Covid-19 is probably misplaced. They may speak against vaccination, but they get themselves vaccinated.

It is time to bring much, much younger citizens into our legislative process. They have more at at stake then someone who may day in the next 5 or 10 years.

So, when will we hear how many democrats have the virus?

Just imagine how much better the USA would be if both republican senators from Kentucky were NOT in the Senate?

Ignoring advice? Of course they are. They are politicians. They consider themselves a better class of people. Especially the republicans. Add that to the fact that they’re monumentally arrogant and dumber than a box of rocks and you have most of the members of Congress.

Once again, this article is framed disingenuously. There is a difference between Pelsoi saying “we are the captains” and Inhofe saying he isn’t taking any precautions and shaking hands. Especially when you consider the well established partisan divide on altering your habits and conservatives alleging this is a “hoax.” Pelosi’s statement calls attention to the commitment to work for the people in this crisis, his speaks to a refusal to acknowledge it.

Are they not concerned about the risk they present to others by ignoring the recommended precautions? This is socially irresponsible behavior and the worst kind of role modeling from people who are supposed to be leaders.

“On Wednesday, Congress’s attending physician...” The very fact that Congress has concierge medicine might give its members more confidence.

This doesn’t surprise me in the least. What was the one thing that bothered Marty McFly more than anything? In all three movies, he flew into a rage if anyone accused him of being scared. Some of us are worried about the health of our families. And some of us are more worried about being compared to a stereotypical helpless and scared girl. Because in American culture, there’s nothing worse than being a girl.

When you constantly ignore science and scientific methodology and rely on hearsay and name calling, Karma is eventually going to get you. The GOP is full of such science skeptics. Maybe this is reality check for them. No one wishes illness on anyone but please for once pay attention and respect to the science and what scientist/doctors say. They have taken an oath to do no harm.

The most interesting but least surprising part of this article is the chart that reveals how out of whack the age proportion of Congress is with the age proportion of the US population. How much does this have to do with the abominably low approval ratings for Congress, I wonder? The sense of entitlement that seems to track directly with age, race, wealth, and gender in US leadership says something about why we are in the terrible mess we are in, I believe. We have a lot of younger people who are seeing the world with eyes that may perceive more acutely than most old eyes can hope to do. I say this with humility as a mid-septuagenarian myself. It’s time for some of us to move on and give over to newer minds, newer hearts, and newer ideas. As for the coronavirus, is Mother Nature telling us something that we haven’t yet caught onto?

Just think.... these are the very people that we need to get out of Congress anyway. Not such a bad thing

Why should Republican members of Congress take the virus seriously when their fearless leader does not? Perhaps like the rest of us, they cannot get reliable information from our government. This administration ignored and covered up issues until it had no choice but to admit them--and then Trump said it was no big deal. I am in my 70s. There is no known active coronavirus case in my county, but I am staying home, not eating out, not going to religious services and meetings and otherwise taking good care of myself to prevent illness or at least complications. It's what any wise person of any age should do.

Unfortunately, a group of ladies I know are not taking the threat seriously. Some are more upset that their travel plans were canceled. I suppose when more people are diagnosed in this area, they’ll wake up.

One would think that the greater proportion of elders in both houses of Congress (not to mention the president and the Supreme Court) would better represent the welfare of the USA population. They are vulnerable to infection and most likely have secondary conditions that make them additionally so. Take your heads out of the sand and work for your constituents, please. It could save your own life.

What a perfect illustration of how out of touch so many in congress are. While the rest of us are learning how to replace our normal routines with tech alternatives, the technologically clueless keep working old style making no sensible adjustments. It was painful to watch how stupidly they handled questioning Mark Zuckerberg. I'll bet most of them don't even know how to use their own email - they have other people to do that for them. We need representatives who live like the rest of us. How else will they know how to solve our nation's problems? And we should all have the same EQUAL access to good quality health care.

This is our leadership? No wonder we are divided along many fault lines. This is ignorance and hubris in one package. Lead or get out of the way. Can you hear me Imhofe et al.

Our elected officials can be just as useless sitting at home as they have been sitting in the Capitol. Have any of them heard of Charles Darwin?

It's easy for members of any branch of government to risk their health and the health of others because 1, they have excellent medical coverage and 2, they don't really care about anyone else, much less their constituents.

They're secure in the knowledge that they will get whatever healthcare they need, including one of those ICU beds if necessary. It's the ultimate present day form of arrogance.

Geniuses.

Well, if the majority republican senate ignores COVID19 and dies because of it, it would be good for liberals in three ways: 1) it proves that evolution is real, even though I think thats pretty solid at this point 2) opens more seats for democrats 3) lets the New York Times and other news outlets post a nine word article called "I said this would happen, but did you listen?"

Why am I not surprised that Congress is failing to lead by example?

Members' of Congress behavior reflects a lethal and to some extent, criminal, response to a failing public health effort to contain and treat COVID19. While willful ignorance isn't a crime, in and of itself, it becomes so when acting on that ignorance harms or kills others. The problem isn't solely that members may acquire COVID19, but that they also become vectors for transmitting the disease. In effect, they are acting as Typhoid Marys. If they will not follow public health directives, then send them all to Ward's Island in quarantine and host a true life Survivor. The US has degraded into a stark predator and prey zero sum post-civil society.

" Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma, 85, what precautions he was taking to protect himself from the disease known as Covid-19, he said none — and extended his arm with confidence: “Wanna shake hands?” This is not cute Senator Inhofe. This is hubris. This tells other Americans that the threat of this virus is not as serious as the CDC and the WHO indicate. Is that the message you and your colleagues intend to send? I find this actually quite off-putting. Tell us, if so many in both houses are "older" and get sick and die, what are your contingency plans?

My elderly relatives and acquaintances are either unwilling to accept the danger of COVID-19 or have accepted the risks with a sense of fatalism that is absolutely crazy-making. I cannot talk any sense into them. They're just going about their daily business as if nothing has changed. Meanwhile, my fifty-something self is staying at home and taking all other recommended precautions, like washing my hands dozens of times a day and disinfecting frequently-touched surfaces. I've even changed my grocery shopping habits to avoid crowds by going either very early in the morning or late at night.

Friend just came from Oregon to New York on a plane that was approximately 40 percent full. He said it's usually 100 percent full. Please remember that Payroll Taxes fund Social Security. No payroll tax No Social Security? If there is a tax holiday, will it have to be paid on our 2020 Income Tax Return.

This should be at the top of the list, ie ban meetings and flights of US congresspeople including the president. Nothing will be missed since nothing gets done.

While part of me applauds sentiments like Nancy Pelosi’s being the “last to leave”, there seems to be unneeded hubris in comments and attitudes from octogenarian congresspeople stating that they are taking no precautions and then glibly offering to shake hands.

Senator Leahy's wife is right. I am an RN and Congress should be operating in a virtual environment with video and audio to prevent transmission. I can almost guarantee that all those members 65 and over have 1 or more chronic diseases and are vulnerable. They should not be "the last man standing as the captain of the ship". Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!!

Nice to know that for our members of the House and Senate that ignorance is bliss. I am ciurious to know what happens when the virus hits both houses and they are unable to conduct business.